A well-worn shoe or favorite cardigan...

Lately, I've been reading through architect, Sarah Susanka's Not So Big Remodeling: Tailoring Your Home For The Way You Really Live. Susanka writes about keeping it simple when talking about her recent not-so-big remodel and how her house would probably never have been featured in a book or magazine (if she didn't write it ) although it is "vastly superior" to the way it was when she and her husband bought it. Susanka's quote describing her house really resonated with me:

"It is comfortable like a well-worn shoe or a favorite cardigan, neither of which you'd ever likely see walking down the runway at a fashion show but which is in fact a lot more practical and satisfying than any article of runway clothing will ever be." 

Exactly my thoughts. It doesn't have to be grandieous. Check. It doesn't have to be like the Jones'. Done. But, it does have to be cozy. Yup. It does have to be inviting. It's getting there. It does have to feel like home. More and more each day. It does have to be easy to move in (read: not constantly tripping over paint cans, tools, etc). Check minus. It does have to be functional and practical. Goal in progress - this takes some actual living in the space to figure out what is not working and how to solve it's problems. It does have to have charm. Some days it may be hard to find but we know it's there...under the mess we've made.

Lessons Learned Today

As I spent most of the day working on the living/dining room, removing old twice-painted window treatment hardware from the trim and diff-ing off the last missed spots of wallpaper backing, I learned some vital lessons:

1. Tool belts are PRICELESS. After climibing up and down the stepladder 50 times to get the utility knife, then the screwdriver, then the chisel, then the hammer...I ventured to the basement in search of my tool belt. Ahhhh...so much better. I may not have burned as many calories but my legs aren't going to hate me in the morning either. 

2. Chisels WILL DRAW BLOOD if you get your hand in it's way. Lesson learned the hard way. Things like this always happen on the last part of what you are doing. I had already chipped, chiseled, hammered loose and unscrewed 11 pieces of window treatment hardware and on the last piece my chisel and hand *kissed.* The gouge in my palm reinforced my reasoning for buying a first-aid kit on one of my many trips to Menards. Moral of the story...don't stick your chisel in your hand and ALWAYS keep a first-aid kit on hand. I now also have a large bottle of Hibiclens, strong antiseptic and skin cleanser, to ward off nasty infections. My nurse momma would be so proud!

3. Remember thermostats CONTROL THE HEAT. Funny story. So....some of the remaining wallpaper backing was behind the thermostat. In order to avoid getting Dif on the thermostat, I put a plastic bag around it. Now, you are all probably thinking "What was I thinking?" right? Yeah, I asked myself the same thing. After putting it in a plastic bag, I sprayed the Dif and let it set for 15-20 min...scraped off the backing...washed the area...and left it to dry...which is when things got heated. Literally. I was sweating up a storm and thinking I must be really working hard sanding, etc. I was next to the radiator and realized it was really hot. But it was a nice warm day out....*Insert AH HA MOMENT here.* I raced over to the thermostat which read 72+ degrees...I quickly removed the bag and got it placed back up on the wall. After opening all the windows and pulling the self-storing screens back down/pushing the storms up, I decided it was the perfect time to quick mow the lawn (also, my neighbor had just finished with his and I borrow his mower) and enjoy the reasonable outdoor temperature. In the end, it took about 2 hours of open windows to bring the house temperature back to a semi-comfortable level. Moral of this story...don't MESS with the thermostat unless you want to get burned.